Ok, so this won't be the best review. Reason being that I damaged my knee 2 days before getting to Yuzawa and wasn't able to go boarding, but having snowboarded here for the last 2 years, I think I'm qualified to write a review.

First off, big thanks to the SJ team for the free tickets. As expected, they were waiting for me at my hotel when I arrived. I wish I could have used them properly.

I was debating whether to drive to GALA or take the lifts up from where I was staying at the base of Ishiuchi Maruyama. Looking into it, I was happy to see that parking at GALA is free (yay!) and plentiful. So driving past the famous phone booth, I made my way to the GALA parking lot near the base station. Which was

This was my second visit to Gala. The first time was in January 2012 when there was good snow but poor visibility and more importantly, the Southern Area was closed, this being the area with ungroomed, powder runs. I’ve therefore wanted to return there with better conditions and was able to do so last week. Although early March, the Yuzawa area (“Paradise Alley”) was experiencing a brief return to mid-winter conditions, with lower temperatures and lots of snowfall. The day

One of the first things I wanted to do after arriving in Japan was to ride the bullet train and when I found out that I could take one to a ski resort, I knew I had to go there! Two and a half years down the line and I finally made it to GALA Yuzawa. As has been said before, it doesn't get much more convenient than this. Get off the train, take the escalator up

One of the first things I wanted to do after arriving in Japan was to ride the bullet train and when I found out that I could take one to a ski resort, I knew I had to go there! 2 and a half years down the line and I finally made it to GALA Yuzawa. As has been said before, it doesn't get much more convenient than this. Get off the train, take the escalator up

After a memorable first experience, I had the opportunity to return to Gala under 'normal' conditions ... meaning not after a huge dump of snow.

The ungroomed runs that I enjoyed so much last time were transformed into hard packed mogul runs. There was still a lot of untouched virgin powder a little bit further on the side. The best track is linking the Central Area to the South Area. It is great, but hardly accessible; indeed you

I wanted to visit Gala for more than 2 years now. I was curious to see Japanese organization at its paroxysm. I was expecting it to be tacky and artificial, but I really wanted to experience it once.

The configuration of the main building is indeed very convenient. As you come out from the JR gates, you literally enter into the ski resort. The integration is so well made that I wouldn’t be surprised if Gala is

I don't know if I just got lucky but the snow yesterday was as good as anywhere else I've had the pleasure of riding. It just continued to snow all day filling tracks and topping up the powder. Visibility was pretty good for most of the day, I took an early lunch about 11.30 because the vis was a little bad then and at the end of the day the vis was down again but I didn't mind as the